The SCOTUS majority took two more steps back from the will of the American people in last week’s rulings against affirmative action and LGBTQ+ rights. A conservative faction of Supreme Court justices has allowed wealthy corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections (Citizens United v. FEC); stripped us of bodily autonomy (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization); destroyed working people’s right to strike for a fair return on their work (Glacier Northwest v. Teamsters); and, as of June 29, created new barriers for students of color to access higher education (Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and v. UNC) and upended anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination by public businesses (303 Creative LLC v. Elenis).

There is a clear throughline with these decisions – an out-of-touch wing of the Supreme Court is stripping justice and freedom from everyday Americans to put more power into the hands of corrupt wealthy elites. 

In the words of dissenting Supreme Court Justice Katanji Brown Jackson in response to the affirmative action ruling, “With let-them-eat-cake obliviousness, today, the majority pulls the ripcord and announces ‘colorblindness for all’ by legal fiat. But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.” 

In the Court’s 303 Creative LLC ruling denying services to same-sex couples, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent, “Today, the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class.”

In the face of these rulings, progressive advocates continue to lead the fight for a more just society. WDN is extremely proud to support one such effort through our partnership with the Court Accountability Alliance (CAA). 

Upon its launch, CAA will drive a coordinated strategy to confront Supreme Court corruption and other judicial abuses. The group will coordinate investigations into judicial corruption and unprincipled judicial activism, support partners in catalyzing Congressional action to expose corruption, and produce rapid response communications for progressive coalitions to motivate the base and shape narratives heading into 2024. They’ve already made tremendous headway. 

WDN provided seed funding to CAA with a $100K grant along with generous funding from over 20 of our members. As of June 30, CAA reached their $1 million goal and will officially launch soon!

“What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.” – Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes